Book Help

Guffrey

Alright, so here is the situation. Two of my favorite books of all time would be The Adventures of Ulysses (pretty much a short novel version of The Odyssey) and Monkey: A Folk Novel of China. The problem is, I've read Ulysses too many times to count, and I've lost my copy of Monkey. So I figure I'd try something new.

Now, for those who haven't read either, they essentially involve a hero character going around the world on some adventure. Along the way they get in fights, meet (demi)gods, other adventurers, etc. I am looking for any other books that would seem to fit in these mold. Now, I realize there are plenty of fantasy/sci-fi books out there that fit the mold. But the cool things about these two books are they legends from an ancient society. I guess I'm technically looking for fantasy, but something grounded in the "real world". Thanks in advance for any help!

Susan Delgado

Have you tried Stephen King's Dark Tower series?

Cruix

You need to go and read American Gods by Neil Gaiman, if you haven't already. You can come back and thank me when you finish it!

Guffrey

Hmm, well neither of those are exactly what I had expected, but needless to say they both seem interesting and I'll have to look into them. Any more help is appreciated.

JebusUD

read Santiago: A myth of the far future By Mike Resnick. Sounds like somthing you might enjoy and would get you into some Sci-fi.

Rook

Latro in the Mists - Gene Wolf ... "translations of the diary writings of Latro, a Roman mercenary wounded in battle in ancient Greece. Latro's head wound ruined his short-term memory, but bestowed upon him the gift of conversing with gods and goddesses."

Daenris

Cruix wrote: »

You need to go and read American Gods by Neil Gaiman, if you haven't already. You can come back and thank me when you finish it!

Yeah... and while you're at it read everything else by Neil Gaiman as well. Or at least his novels -- Anansi Boys, Neverwhere, and maybe Good Omens (co-authored by him and Terry Pratchet). They're all wonderful and involve much traveling around by a hero running into strange characters/gods/etc.

TychoCelchuuu

I haven't read it but Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell sounds like a perfect fit.

zhen_rogue

You might enjoy The Road, by Cormac McCarthy.

Guffrey

wow, so I've been so caught up with stuff I actually forgot I made the thread. I want to thank you all for your help, and while they all seem interesting, I think Im gonna go with Latro. Thanks again.

LoveIsUnity

Based on your second favorite...the monkey one, I think you would probably like Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart. Bridge of Birds is an epic (very much so in the Homeric sense) about a character in "an ancient China that never was." I think it would be right up your alley.

TychoCelchuuu

Guffrey wrote: »

wow, so I've been so caught up with stuff I actually forgot I made the thread. I want to thank you all for your help, and while they all seem interesting, I think Im gonna go with Latro. Thanks again.

You can read more than one book you know.

Guffrey

Yes, Im aware. I have made note of all the suggestions. However, at the moment, limited time plus limited money (getting married real soon) means I can only afford to get one at the moment.

Silvoculous

His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman) matches your criteria exactly. Not sure if the whole "killing God" undertone would appeal to you, but the trilogy as a whole is heartily enjoyable.

edit: oh.

OremLK

Check out Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. I personally think it's exactly what you're looking for. It's a bit of a retelling of the tale of sleeping beauty, but drawing on the older, harsher myths, and all of it taking place in a very realistic-seeming past (albeit, with magic, of course).

In terms of pacing and just hitting every beat really well, I think it's one of the best-written novels I've ever read.

TaGuelle

Don't read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell. 500 pages of character development with like 50 pages of plot at the end. Check out George Mcdonald Fraiser. He wrote the Flashman Series. It's about some military officer who gets all the credit for crazy shit that others does. It describes in good history the Victorian Era.

TychoCelchuuu

Oh, Crofton's Fire is also what you're looking for, as long as you don't mind something set in the old west, or at least that time period.

Lepton

OremLK wrote: »

Check out Enchantment by Orson Scott Card. I personally think it's exactly what you're looking for. It's a bit of a retelling of the tale of sleeping beauty, but drawing on the older, harsher myths, and all of it taking place in a very realistic-seeming past (albeit, with magic, of course).

In terms of pacing and just hitting every beat really well, I think it's one of the best-written novels I've ever read.

Excellent book. I just read it a couple weeks ago. Good recommendation. I would suggest the Dresden File novels by Jim Butcher (easy, entertaining reads, and you can really start just about anywhere in the series).

Speaker

Give The Jataka Tales a try.

Guffrey

Well I won't be able to make it to the bookstore till Sunday, so by all means keep the suggestions coming. I really wasn't expecting this much of a response.